Univision Shows Leave Hulu as Streaming Deal Expires

Screengrab/La Banda

'La Banda'

The streamer recently signed a deal with Univision's Spanish-language TV rival, Telemundo.

Nearly two dozen Univision series are leaving Hulu.

The Spanish-language broadcaster's deal to license its shows to Hulu has expired, the streamer announced Friday via its customer Help Center. That means Univision series include La Banda and telenovelas such as El Color de la Pasion are no longer available for Hulu subscribers. A handful of shows will remain on the platform until they finish their current season runs. The companies first struck a deal in 2011, making Univision shows available for Hulu subscribers (for the tier then known as Hulu Plus) one day after they aired on broadcast.

A Univision spokeswoman says the company is still in discussions with Hulu about licensing its programming.

The news comes three days after Hulu announced that it had acquired hundreds of episodes of telenovelas and other Spanish-language programming from NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo. The multiyear pact, which will take effect April 15, includes all past episodes of telenovelas such as La Reina del Sur.

Hulu also recently struck a deal with Sony Pictures Television for streaming rights to telenovelas Lady and La Vendenora de Rosas, as well as Pedro Almodovar films such as The Skin I Live in and Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. They are now available on Hulu.